Category: Press Release

It’s time for the law in Iceland to reflect science and ethics by banning commercial whale killing, says Humane Society International

Humane Society International / Europe

Fin whale with seagulls
Elizabeth Tighe-Andino

REYKJAVÍK, Iceland―Iceland’s Pirate Party―the sixth largest political party in the country with six seats in Parliament― has introduced a legislative bill aimed at banning the country’s commercial whaling. Leading animal protection charity Humane Society International―which together with the Avaaz platform is set later this month to hand in more than 2 million petition signatures to the Icelandic government in support of a ban―welcomed the bill.

Iceland’s commercial whaling activity is conducted by just one whaling company, Hvalur hf., run by owner and CEO Kristján Loftsson. Earlier this year, Food, Agriculture and Fisheries Minister Bjarkey Olsen Gunnarsdóttir renewed the company’s commercial whaling licence for one year despite clear evidence in a report by the Icelandic Food and Veterinary Authority that some whales killed in Icelandic hunts took up to two hours to die, with 41% suffering on average 11.5 minutes before dying, in contravention of the Animal Welfare Act.

Claire Bass, Humane Society International/UK’s senior director of campaigns & public affairs, said: “This bill is Iceland’s crossroads moment, where politicians can choose between continuing the brutal and bloody slaughter of these ocean giants to satisfy the demand of just one single whaler in Iceland, or protecting whales from needless suffering. Whales face myriad threats including ship strikes, underwater noise, climate change and entanglement in fishing gear. Killing whales threatens Iceland’s global reputation and is contrary to national animal welfare laws. It’s time for the law in Iceland to reflect science and ethics by banning commercial whale killing once and for all and so we urge Iceland’s legislators to vote in support of this legislation.”

The bill proposes to make whaling illegal by repealing the Act on whaling, no. 26/1949 , and by including whales in the law on the protection, preservation and hunting of wild birds and wild mammals, no. 64/1994 . The bill text makes the case that “Whaling is not Icelandic cultural heritage; Whaling and animal welfare cannot go together; Whales are important in the marine ecosystem; Most of the public is against whaling; The economy and business relationships are at stake; Iceland should be a leading model when it comes to the protection of marine areas and animal species in the sea.”

Fast facts:

  • The International Whaling Commission agreed to enact a global moratorium on all commercial whaling in 1986.
  • Iceland left the IWC in 1992 but returned in 2002 with an exception to the moratorium, despite objections from multiple nations. Since re-joining the IWC, Iceland has killed more than 1,500 whales, including fin whales.
  • Iceland suspended hunting fin whales in 2016 due to a declining market for whale meat in Japan. Hunting resumed for the 2018 season when 146 fin whales were killed, including a pregnant female and a rare fin-blue hybrid whale, plus six minke whales. Icelandic whalers killed a single minke whale between 2019 and 2021, 148 fin whales in 2022, 24 in 2023 and no whales (so far) in 2024.
  • Whales support climate goals by capturing large amounts of carbon and cycling nutrients through the ecosystem. A single whale stores an average of 33 tons of carbon dioxide in their body over a lifetime, which then falls to the seafloor when the whale dies and cycles through the deep-sea ecosystem rather than re-entering the atmosphere. Whales also cycle nutrients between habitats, supporting phytoplankton and increasing carbon capture from photosynthesis.  Fin whales are classified by the International Union for the Conservation of Nature Red List as globally vulnerable, which means they are considered to be facing a high risk of extinction in the wild, despite decades of recovery since the commercial whaling moratorium.

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Media contact: Wendy Higgins, director of international media: whiggins@hsi.org

With support from Humane Society International, Tap Home Cook commits to stop using eggs from caged hens by 2028

Humane Society International / Southeast Asia

danchooalex/iStock.com

BANGKOK, Thailand—Tap Home Cook, a popular café and restaurant group in Thailand, is taking a significant step toward improving animal welfare by committing to only use eggs from cage-free hens by 2028. The pledge was made with the support of the animal protection organisation Humane Society International which is working to improve the welfare of farmed animals in the country.

Tap Home Cook operates three well-known brands: Not Just Another Cup, Tiny Cup and Butter Cup. The company is dedicated to offering more sustainable options for customers while improving its social impact. By shifting to eggs from cage-free hens, Tap Home Cook joins a growing number of Thai businesses prioritizing animal welfare in their supply chains. This company has already begun the transition, with full implementation expected by 2028.

In Thailand, the majority of the 95.8 million hens used for egg production spend their lives in cramped wire cages, each with less space than the area of an A4 sheet of paper. These crowded cages prevent hens from expressing natural behavior such as spreading their wings, nesting, perching and dustbathing. Cage-free systems, on the other hand, offer the opportunity for hens to engage in these vital activities, greatly enhancing their quality of life. Research has shown that hens are sentient, intelligent and sociable animals.

“At Tap Home Cook, we are deeply committed to responsible sourcing,” said Chitraphan Charanachitta, Founder and CEO of Tap Home Cook. “Our transition to cage-free eggs aligns perfectly with our vision We are grateful to Humane Society International for their support in helping us make this important change, and we are excited to be part of the global movement toward more humane practices.

Lalada Tangjerdjaras, Thailand Program Manager, Farm Animal Welfare and Protection for Humane Society International, applauded Tap Home Cook’s leadership: “We are thrilled to see Tap Home Cook take this important step towards improving animal welfare. Their commitment will not only benefit the hens but will also inspire other companies in Thailand to follow suit. HSI in Thailand is ready to support any business looking to improve the welfare of animals in its supply chains.”

Tap Home Cook is joining a broader cage-free movement within Thailand and beyond, as more multinational and local companies make similar cage-free commitments. Global companies with operations in Thailand, such as Central Retail Group, AccorHotels, Hilton Hotels and Resorts, Sodexo, Nestle and Mondelez International, have already started to make the switch to cage-free eggs Additionally, Thai brands like Baan Ying Family, Akiyoshi, Bite Me Softly, Kalpapruek, Rena Bakery, Rotruedee and Sukishi are part of this growing shift toward more humane sourcing.

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Media contact: Lalada Tangjerdjaras, Thailand program manager for farm animal welfare and protection at Humane Society International, ltangjerdjaras@hsi.org

Nineteen scarlet macaws, victims of illegal trafficking, returned to their habitat thanks to wildlife protection and conservation organizations

Humane Society International / Latin America

ARCAS

PETEN, Guatemala―Once the transport cages were opened, a multicolored plumage again adorned the jungle in the Mayan Biosphere Reserve, in Guatemala. Nineteen scarlet macaws (Ara macao cyanoptera), an emblematic species in the Central American region, returned to their natural habitat, after having been rescued and confiscated from illegal wildlife trafficking.

While the scarlet macaw is currently classified as “least concern” by the International Union for Conservation of Nature, several countries throughout Central and South American list the species as under greater threat. Researchers estimate there are between 150 and 200 scarlet macaws remaining in Guatemala, where they are listed as threatened. The northern subspecies is considered in danger of extinction in Mexico, Belize, Costa Rica and Panama; a species of concern in Honduras; and protected from take in Nicaragua. Rainforest habitat loss and wild capture and exploitation for the illegal pet trade are the main threats to this species. Snatched from their nests in the wild, these birds can be trafficked for hundreds of dollars each to countries around the world including the United States, where the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service lists scarlet macaws as threatened.

The release of these threatened and colorful birds was the result of joint work by non-governmental, non-profit organizations, Asociacion Rescate y Conservacion de Vida Silvestre (known as ARCAS) and Humane Society International/Latin America, with the support of the Luis Von Ahn Foundation and Defensores de la Naturaleza, as well as the National Council of Protected Areas, known as CONAP.

All of the released macaws were victims of illegal wildlife trafficking. While most were hatched at ARCAS’s Wildlife Rescue Centre from parent birds rescued from the wildlife trade, two were confiscated directly by the authorities. Fernando Martinez, director of ARCAS Petén, explains: “The two confiscated juveniles were kept in boxes and were destined for the illegal pet trade. Since they arrived at the rescue center when they were young, they had the opportunity to join the rest of the group and return to the habitat from which they were extracted.”

“Through our rehabilitation process, all nineteen young birds have learned the skills necessary to live free and increase the wild population of macaws in the Mayan Biosphere Reserve.”

Andrea Borel, executive director of HSI/Latin America, said: “Illegal wildlife trafficking in Guatemala poses a major threat to endangered species such as macaws, as traffickers remove chicks from their nests to sell as pets. Such trafficking puts a price tag on these species, leading to unsustainable population declines. In addition to further threats from habitat loss, this illegal activity causes suffering and distress to the birds who are stolen from the wild and smuggled long distances to be sold on the black market for the pet trade. That is why, since 2007, HSI/Latin America has been working with our local partner, ARCAS, on wildlife protection and conservation in Guatemala.”

The release of the macaws to their natural habitat was facilitated by members of the non-governmental organizations listed above, under the supervision of CONAP. The released birds will be observed and monitored for 15 days to track their progress.

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Ilfov Country Council and Humane Society International/Europe launch program to care for street dogs and cats, empower local authorities and increase responsible pet ownership

Humane Society International / Europe

HSI

BUCHAREST, Romania—Together with the animal protection organization Humane Society International/Europe, the Ilfov County Council, kicked off a community-wide program to deliver free veterinary care to street dogs and cats. Teams of veterinarians will provide services such as spay and neuter, vaccination, microchipping, deworming treatments and first aid, to better protect people and animals. The initiative, running through 2025, is part of a broader effort to support local authorities in adopting humane population control strategies while promoting public education on animal welfare and responsible pet ownership. Roundtable discussions will also be held to support local and county authorities in creating strategic humane management plans for the region’s street animals.

Hundreds of street dogs and cats are likely to benefit from this initiative, contributing to a safer and healthier environment for both people and animals. The program will focus on high-priority areas, ranging from public institutions, former military bases, company headquarters, courtyards and disadvantaged and neglected areas within Ilfov County.

Hubert Thuma, president of Ilfov County Council, said: “I am not ashamed to say to Humane Society International/Europe: teach us, help us, work with us! At the same time, it makes me sad because I realize that after years and years, we as a country have not been able to care for street dogs and cats at the level they deserve. In 2013, we voted against the law on mass killing of animals. I explained then that mass sterilization, information and education were the solutions. Later, in 2020, when I became county council chairman, lo and behold, I was able to demonstrate that humane and effective methods exist. I thank HSI/Europe for the partnership for good that we have started together!”

HSI/Europe’s Compassion for Companions program has been supporting projects dedicated to helping pets in disadvantaged communities in Romania since 2022. Through local partner organizations,  HSI facilitates access to veterinary care and assistance in communities where these services are non-existent or too expensive. More than 2,000 dogs and cats from shelters, from the streets or whose owners cannot afford the costs of veterinary care have been helped so far in several areas of Romania.

Andreea Rosetti, Romania country director at HSI/Europe says: ” We have launched the Compassion for Companions program in Romania because the animals here need as much support as possible. I have personally witnessed the desperate need for street animals to receive help and the veterinary medical care makes the difference between life and death. I also understand the struggle of those who care for the animals in a community who cannot take the burden of so many new puppies on the street. And this is where we help. We have started this collaboration with Ilfov County Council because Ilfov has already shown that they have an effective vision that puts the lives of all beings first.”

Dr. Katherine Polak, vice president of companion animal welfare and engagement at Humane Society International adds: “Humane Society International/Europe is ready to assist authorities in the humane management of stray dog and cat populations, drawing on data, rigorous research, and expertise in the field. HSI has a specialized Monitoring, Evaluation, Impact, and Assessment team that works globally to assist governments in identifying the best ways to manage free-roaming animal populations. We will help Ilfov authorities make informed and humane decisions for the benefit of the animals, as well as the community.”

HSI has successfully led animal population management programs all over the world to address companion animal welfare issues at a local or national level. Over the years, HSI’s MEIA team has provided support to local animal welfare organizations and governments with high-tech accuracy by developing mobile applications tailored to gather and track data for spay/neuter, catch-neuter-vaccinate-return of dogs and mass vaccination programs.

Download pictures of Romanian street dogs and cats receiving veterinary care through the Compassion for Companion program.

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Media contacts:

  • Andreea Roseti; aroseti@hsi.org
  • Hilde Tudora, Director of Animal Protection Ilfov; 0768.78.41.2

Humane Society International/UK declares the new study should be a ‘major wake-up call’ for governments to stop trading in cruel and hazardous fur fashion

Humane Society International / United Kingdom

HSI

LONDON—Dozens of new viruses have been detected in animals in China, including those on fur farms, providing damning evidence of the public health risk of the fur industry and leading animal protection charity Humane Society International/UK to intensify its call for an end to the trade. In a new study published in Nature, scientists studying animals farmed for their fur in China found 36 new viruses, as well as identifying viruses associated with human infections and frequently observing potential cross-species transmission of coronavirus and avian influenzas. The paper’s authors warn that fur farms act as a hub for transmitting viruses.

The study, which tested 461 tissue samples from fur-bearing animals, identified 39 viruses classed as “potentially high-risk” for transmission to humans, including 13 novel viruses and 11 zoonotic viruses which can be transmitted from animals to humans. These potentially high-risk viruses were found in mink, arctic foxes and rabbits, as well as raccoon dogs who carried the most (up to 10), with the scientists noting that these animals “constituted potentially high-risk hosts for the transmission of viruses to humans and other animals”. Seven coronavirus species were identified in 66 farmed fur animals. The authors also state particular concern about finding bat coronaviruses (HKU5), and separately, avian influenza (H5N6) viruses in farmed mink, and note that co-infection is commonplace.

Claire Bass, senior director of campaigns and public affairs at Humane Society International/UK, said: “This new study needs to be a major wake-up call to politicians to stop us from sleep walking into another pandemic. The results couldn’t be clearer, fur farms are a ticking time bomb for deadly infectious diseases, all for a completely outdated ‘fashion’ product that no-one needs. Governments that still permit fur farming, including in the EU and China, must stop playing Russian roulette with public health and bring bans into place. Countries trading in fur are fully complicit in this public health risk and must stop imports to help shut down this cruel and deadly industry.”

Just last year, HSI/UK released alarming footage from fur farms in north China of animals kept in intensive conditions, including in close proximity to poultry, despite the potential for zoonotic disease spread. Investigators witnessed several other biosecurity risks including widespread use of antibiotics, animal feed containing raw chicken meat and the sale of raccoon dog carcasses for human consumption.

The new study is not the first time that scientists have raised concerns over about the risks of fur farms spreading viruses with pandemic potential. In July 2023, after outbreaks of avian flu (H5N1) on mink and fox fur farms in Spain and Finland, virologists from Imperial College London’s Department of Infectious Disease warned that farming mink for fur should be considered the same risk level as the bushmeat trade and live animal markets due to the threat it poses for the emergence of future disease outbreaks. Concern has also been raised over the spread of SARS-CoV-2 in mink on almost 500 fur farms in Europe and North America, with the virus passing from humans to farmed mink, between mink, and from farmed mink to humans. In recent years, millions of animals on fur farms have been ordered to be killed on public health grounds.

Fur farming has been illegal in the UK since the Fur Farming (Prohibition) Acts came into force in 2003. Despite this, HMRC records show that £39,703,694 of fur was imported to the UK in 2023, from countries including China, Finland, Spain, Italy and France. Humane Society International/UK leads the #FurFreeBritain campaign urging the Government to end this double standard by banning imports and sales of fur in the UK.

The UK Government’s Animal Welfare Committee is currently tasked with reviewing imported fur sourcing, and HSI/UK is urging the advisory body to seriously take this new study, highlighting the trade’s dangerous potential for zoonotic disease spread, into account.

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Media contact: Sally Ivens, senior specialist media and communications for HSI/UK; sivens@hsi.org , 07590 559299

Notes:

  • Since April 2020, mink on 488 fur farms across North America and Europe have been reported as having tested positive for SARS-CoV-2. The virus has been shown to pass from mammal to mammal on intensive mink fur farms and reports of farmed mink to human transfer has been reported in at least six countries. The most recently recorded outbreak was in Bulgaria in October 2023.
  • Animals on more than 70 fur farms have been infected with highly pathogenic avian influenza A (H5N1) in Europe—in Spain in 2022 and Finland in 2023—resulting in more than 500,000 mink, raccoon dogs, foxes and sable ordered to be killed by the authorities on public health grounds.
  • HSI estimates that the amount of fur imported into the UK over the last five years (2019-2023) equates to approximately 7 million animals brutally killed, including the equivalent of around one million animals’ worth of fur imported directly from China.
  • In May 2021 the UK Government launched a Call for Evidence on the UK fur trade, with the stated intention of using the findings to inform possible future action. Almost 30,000 responses were submitted before the consultation closed in June 2021, but over three years on, officials are yet to release the results or set out a policy response.
  • National polling carried out in April 2022 shows that 77% of people in Britain think the Government should ban the import of animal products such as fur, where the production methods are already banned in the UK. More than 1.2 million petition signatures have also been gathered.

Humane Society International / South Africa

Jo-Anne McArthur/We Animals 

CAPE TOWN, South Africa—The Animal Law Project (ALP) proudly announces the release of its groundbreaking manifesto, “A Manifesto for Transforming Animal Protection in South Africa: A Constitutional Imperative” for public discussion, engagement and consultations. The Animal Law Project is a collaborative project initiated by Animal Law Reform South Africa (ALRSA), Humane Society International/Africa (HSI/Africa), (as well as the South African Institute for Advanced Constitutional, Public, Human Rights and International Law (SAIFAC), a centre of the University of Johannesburg) in 2022.

The Manifesto was developed after extensive consultations with the animal protection sector, other stakeholders including experts, veterinarians, academics, civil society organisations as well as discussions with government. It calls for an overhaul of the legal framework governing animals, most notably, reform of the outdated Animals Protection Act, which has remained largely unchanged for over 60 years, pre-dating South Africa’s constitutional democracy.

As South Africa celebrates 30 years of democracy, it is crucial to acknowledge that while strides have been made in pursuing social justice for humans, animals have largely been left behind. Despite expanding scientific consensus about non-human animal sentience (the ability to experience both positive and negative states of being), other extensive and complex animal capacities, and the weight of moral concern around animal suffering, it is arguably one of the worst times in history to be an animal. South Africa, known for its rich biodiversity, must now strive for social justice that includes all species.

In a landmark 2016 decision, the Constitutional Court of South Africa recognised animal welfare as a deep principle of the Constitution. The court acknowledged the sentience of animals and emphasized the intrinsic value of animals as individuals, shifting the focus from merely safeguarding human moral status to robust protection of animal welfare. Despite this recognition, there have been few changes to the administration of animal protection, leaving animals vulnerable to countless harmful and cruel practices.

Hundreds of millions of animals in various sectors endure ongoing and extreme suffering in South Africa:

  • Over 1.1 billion land animals are produced and killed for food annually, with chickens making up the majority at over 950 million. The consumption of other animals such as cows, pigs, sheep, goats, rabbits, aquatic animals and even insects are also on the rise. Farmed animals often endure extensive harm, including close confinement, mutilation, forced pregnancies, and unnatural diets. Practices such as long-distance sea transport and mass killings during crises have exacerbated the situation.
  • Wild animals are commodified as “faunal biological resources” under an interpretation of “sustainable use,” often resulting in their exploitation. Wildlife “farming”, often seen as a conservation success, prioritizes economic gains over true conservation. Harmful practices like canned hunting, poaching, and trophy hunting are prevalent, and both legal and illegal practices lead to the systemic killing of animals.
  • Aquatic animals and invertebrates are often not recognised as animals, with their deaths being measured in tonnage rather than individually, and their suffering ignored entirely.
  • Laboratory animals are subjected to inhumane testing, often for trivial or unnecessary purposes, such as the development of cosmetic products. The animal testing industry is characterised by inadequate regulation and oversight.
  • Companion animals continue to suffer from homelessness, malnutrition, illness and abuse, with free-roaming populations facing unmanaged breeding and mass killings in shelters.
  • Animals are also exploited in entertainment, tourism, and various economic activities, often suffering from neglect.

The previous Department of Agriculture, Land Reform, and Rural Development (DALRRD) has expressed the intention to draft a new Animal Welfare Bill. The ALP, initiated to address the gap that exist and to advocate for a just legal regime for animals in South Africa, by informing this legislative process with modern and constitutionally aligned animal protection proposals.

This newly released manifesto has drawn from stakeholder feedback from various sectors, including civil society organizations, human rights groups, the legal fraternity, environmental and conservation sectors, academics, veterinarians, and students.

The manifesto, available for public comment and feedback, consists of three parts:

  • Part I: Introducing the background, impetus, and scope of the ALP, summarizing the extensive consultations, and the manifesto’s purpose.
  • Part II: Providing a high-level problem statement, highlighting the deficiencies in current animal regulatory regime and institutions, reviewing international developments and introducing the concept of constitutional misalignment.
  • Part III: Presenting tangible proposals for transforming animal protection in South Africa, detailing foundational values, guiding principles, and enabling mechanisms. The three foundational values proposed are constitutional alignment, sentience, and intrinsic value. The ten guiding principles include animal flourishing, vulnerability, ubuntu, public interest, least harm and proportionality, justifiability, duty of care, non-arbitrariness, knowledge, and internationality.  The enabling mechanisms draw on existing South African and foreign precedent and best practice as well as commonly accepted tenets of good governance.

The ALP calls on the public, policymakers, and all stakeholders to engage with the manifesto and contribute to shape a future where the protection of animals is understood and realised as a matter of social justice and a constitutional imperative in South Africa.

Along with the launch of the manifesto, the ALP hosted a thought-provoking photographic exhibition in Cape Town and Johannesburg, featuring the work of renowned photojournalist Jo-Anne McArthur, alongside local artists from We Animals Media and South African activists. The exhibition, “Justice for Animals? The lived reality of animals in the 21st century” showcases the ongoing suffering of animals identified in the manifesto and aims to evoke a deeper understanding and empathy for the plight of animals.

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Humane Society International/UK calls on the Government to conduct an urgent review of the Agricultural and Horticultural Development Board’s goals and spending priorities.

Humane Society International / United Kingdom

Stock Photography

LONDON— As the second round of a Government-backed multi-million pound ‘Let’s Eat Balanced’ campaign launches today, explicitly aimed at encouraging the public to eat more red meat and dairy, charity Humane Society International/UK says promoting climate-costly diets directly contradicts Labour’s manifesto health and nature goals and calls on farming Minister Daniel Zeichner to commission an urgent review. The campaign has been launched by the Agriculture and Horticulture Development Board, a non-departmental public body, accountable to the UK Parliament through Defra Ministers, with board members appointed by the Secretary of State for Defra.  

HSI/UK says a review is needed into the AHDB’s goals and spending priorities. HSI/UK’s analysis of Defra’s departmental spending figures shows that between January and June 2024, the AHDB spent over £2.5million on pro-meat propaganda, equating to at least 42% of AHDB total expenditure (£6.1million) (for line items over £25,000).  

Animal agriculture accounts for an estimated 16.5% of human-caused greenhouse gas emissions, similar to the emissions from all global transportation. The Climate Change Committee says reducing meat and dairy consumption is essential to reach the UK’s legally binding climate targets and specifically recommended that Defra “Take low-cost, low-regret actions to encourage a 20% shift away from all meat by 2030, rising to 35% by 2050, and a 20% shift from dairy products by 2030, demonstrating leadership in the public sector whilst improving health.” This goal was reported as ‘overdue’ in the Committee’s 2023 annual report.  

In its July 2024 report to Parliament the Climate Change Committee explicitly criticized the AHDB for continuing “to invest in proactive marketing campaigns to encourage meat and dairy consumption, despite the evidence showing that a reduction in meat and dairy consumption supports a shift towards low-carbon, sustainable and healthy diets.” One of their “priority policy recommendations” to the Government is to “Empower people to make low-carbon choices by communicating the most impactful ways to reduce emissions, such as changing car travel, home energy use and dietary behaviours… and support people to make these choices.” 

Claire Bass, senior director of campaigns and public affairs for Humane Society International/UK, said “This AHDB campaign is reckless self-sabotage on Labour’s health and climate policy ambitions. As Ministers get to grips with how to deliver on manifesto pledges to reduce non-communicable diseases like heart attacks and cancers, and to cut greenhouse gas emissions, it makes zero sense for Defra to be quietly processing invoices for a lavish public marketing campaign that completely undermines both policy goals. 

By law, the AHDB exists to help ‘improve the ways in which the industry contributes to sustainable development’ yet this year almost half of its spend has been on a resolutely head-in-the-sand campaign trying to cling on to unhealthy and unsustainable over-consumption of meat and dairy. We urge the new Labour Government to recalibrate the AHDB to allow it to prioritise playing a positive role in marketing the UK’s horticultural produce, including vegetables, legumes and grains, and stop fixating on flogging dead cows, sheep and pigs.” 

In addition to drawing criticism from the CCC, the AHDB’s campaign was criticized by health professionals in May for its “inaccurate and misleading public health messaging”, noting that the campaign is “at odds with established scientific evidence on healthy and sustainable diets” and makes “suggestive ‘health benefits’ whilst ignoring the guidance to limit meat intake, particularly red and processed meat”. 

The AHDB’s expenditure, including that for the ‘Let’s Eat Balanced’ campaign, is funded by an industry levy. However, information obtained through Freedom of Information requests this year revealed that the £4.6million campaign was approved by former farming Minister, former dairy farmer Mark Spencer. 

Against a backdrop of European governments including Denmark, Germany and Norway actively promoting more plant-based eating, and introducing higher taxes on meat production, HSI/UK condemns the ‘Let’s Eat Balanced’ campaign as a regressive initiative that makes the UK look out of sync with European momentum towards people and planet friendly food and farming policies. 

Notes

  • Labour’s 2024 election manifesto includes a commitment to “take preventative public health measures to tackle the biggest killers and support people to live longer, healthier lives.” It also states that “Labour will ensure the institutional framework for policy making reflects our commitments to reach net zero and meet our carbon budgets.” and Labour “will deliver for nature, taking action to meet our Environment Act targets, and will work in partnership with civil society, communities and business to restore and protect our natural world.” 

(a) increasing efficiency or productivity in the industry; 

(b) improving marketing in the industry; 

(c) improving or developing services that the industry provides or could provide to the community; and 

(d) improving the ways in which the industry contributes to sustainable development. 

  • Defra reporting on AHDB spends over £25,000, January–June 2024. Line items for ‘Let’s Eat Balanced’ campaign include advertising agency costs, creative Gen Z partnership agency fees, and online banner placement with Sainsbury’s.  
Month  Spend naming ‘Let’s Eat Balanced’ campaign  Total AHDB spend for month 
January  £70,680  £669,934 
February  £1,290,996  £1,916,876 
March  £1,006,171  £1,993,229 
April  £137,9191  £535,666 
May  –  £645,358 
June  £90,465  £410,567 
Total  £2,596,231   £6,171,630 

Based on a conservative interpretation of Defra’s spend reporting, 42% of the AHDB’s expenditure for January-June 2024 was on the ‘Let’s Eat Balanced’ and ‘Love Pork’ campaigns designed to convince the public to eat more red meat and dairy.
 

Media contact: Sally Ivens, senior specialist media and communications for HSI/UK ;sivens@hsi.org  

Humane Society International / Mexico

AP Images for HSI

MEXICO CITY, Mexico—Thanks to a collaboration between Mexico City’s Secretariat of Disaster Risk Management and Civil Protection and Humane Society International/Mexico, over 100 officials from various municipalities—including firefighters, members of search and rescue units, and community brigade personnel—received training on handling animals in crisis. The training, offered throughout 2024, focused on disaster response and pet first aid, covering topics such as CPR and respiratory emergency care.  

“Mexico City is an important geographic priority for civil protection efforts to prepare the population for a disaster, and now animals are being included in these exercises,” said Felipe Márquez, program manager, disaster response, of Humane Society International/Latin America. 

HSI/Mexico has regularly collaborated with the authorities of Mexico City, particularly after the earthquake of September 19, 2017, when the organization provided help to more than 6,200 animals through emergency veterinary clinics. “Mexico City is highly vulnerable to disasters, as we were reminded by the earthquakes in 1985 and 2017, which resulted in a significant number of fatalities and injuries,” said Marquez. 

Mexico is one of the countries in the world with the greatest telluric (subsurface electrical) activity. According to statistics, more than 90 earthquakes are recorded per year with a magnitude greater than 4 degrees on the Richter scale, which is equivalent to 60% of all telluric movements that are recorded in the world. 

Strengthening local capacities is a key focus for HSI/Mexico, which seeks to build a culture of prevention that includes animals in disaster planning. This involves coordinated efforts to set up temporary shelters where people can safely stay with their pets during emergencies. 

“From February to August, we have provided four training sessions for over 100 officials from different departments in Mexico City. The reception has been very positive, with attendees noting that the topics covered are highly relevant to their daily work and crucial for managing the impact of disasters,” says Márquez. 

Coordination between the non-governmental organization and government authorities allows for greater response capacity in the face of the current hurricane season, as well as in the event of any eventual emergency in Mexico City and the rest of the country.

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Media contact: Magaly Garibay, mgaribay@idee.agencia; (+52 55) 5211 873, ext. 104

Humane Society International / India

HSI

WAYANAD, Kerala—Humane Society International/India is on the ground in Kerala, southwest India, providing critical emergency relief to hundreds of animals affected by the devastating landslides and floods that hit Wayanad on July 30. The landslides, which have so far resulted in more than 350 human deaths with several hundred more people still missing, have also left hundreds of animals including dogs, cats and cattle trapped, stranded, injured and in desperate need of food or veterinary attention.

HSI/India has deployed its animal rescue team to aid relief efforts, including the distribution of 200kgs of emergency animal feed to stranded cattle, as well as medical and veterinary supplies, additional food and water rations, and providing shelter for animals.

HSI/India is working in coordination with official rescue teams, veterinary authorities and other local NGOs, and will expand relief efforts over the next few days to provide aid to more animals in two districts including Mundakkai and Chooralmala.

Praveen Suresh, HSI/India’s program manager of disaster response is on the ground and said: “Hundreds of animals are at risk in Wayanad’s Mundakkai and Chooralmala districts. The range of destruction caused by the series of landslides is something we did not expect to see. We are working around the clock to provide relief to every animal in need we come across. We also plan to strengthen our strategy which was focused on Wayanad for long term intervention for disaster risk reduction in the region.”

HSI/India has been actively working in Wayanad district of Kerala to build a disaster-resilient district for both humans and animals, and conducted flood preparedness trainings with communities and government to safeguard animals and their families during disasters like floods and landslides.

Download visuals from HSI/India’s deployment here

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Media contact: Shaili Shah,  sshah@hsi.org; +91 9930591005

Humane Society International / Europe

HSI

MILAN—After receiving hundreds of thousands of emails from compassionate consumers around the world, thousands of phone calls, countless social media posts and even having a hot air balloon flown over its headquarters in Italy asking it to go fur-free, Max Mara Fashion Group has officially announced a fur-free policy.

In an internal memo to staff, Max Mara said, “The Company does not sell, online nor in any of its physical retail locations, any products made with fur, nor is there the intention to introduce any products made with fur into any upcoming collections of Max Mara Fashion Group brands.”

This was confirmed by a Max Mara executive, who added, “Max Mara, including the MMFG and any subsidiaries, has adopted a fur-free policy and has no intention of introducing fur into any upcoming collection for any of the MMFG brands.”

This announcement comes after the Fur Free Alliance, a coalition of more than 50 animal protection organizations―including Humane Society International― from over 35 countries, launched a global campaign during fashion weeks in February 2024 in New York City, London, Milan and Paris urging the Italian fashion giant to adopt a fur-free policy.  The campaign saw more than 270,000 emails, 5,000 phone calls and countless social media posts delivering a clear message asking Max Mara to go fur-free.

Max Mara Fashion Group has 2,500+ stores in 105 countries and was previously selling items such as mink gloves, fox fur cuffs and a raccoon dog key chain. The brand now joins the world’s major fashion-houses that have already gone fur-free, including Dolce & Gabbana, Saint Laurent, Valentino, Prada, Gucci, Versace, Alexander McQueen, Balenciaga and Armani.

In February this year, Humane Society International/Europe and LAV flew a hot-air balloon over Max Mara’s headquarters in the city of Reggio Emilia during Milan Fashion Week, displaying a fur-free message.

P.J Smith, director of fashion policy at Humane Society International and the Humane Society of the United States, said: “Congratulations to Max Mara for joining so many other fashion brands and retailers that have already taken a stand against the cruel fur trade. Activists around the world came together to ask Max Mara to do the right thing, and they listened, making it clear fur has no place in fashion. Let’s celebrate this win for animals and a fur-free future!”

Joh Vinding, chairman of the Fur Free Alliance, said: “The Fur Free Alliance applauds Max Mara for going fur-free. Max Mara was one of the last global fashion brands that still sold fur, so we’re glad they have now joined a growing list of fur-free brands that want nothing to do with animal cruelty associated with the fur trade.”

Today, over 1,500 brands and retailers have pledged to go fur-free by joining the Fur Free Retailer Program.

Fur facts:

  • Tens of millions of animals suffer and die each year in the global fur trade. The majority of the animals killed for fur are reared in barren battery cages on fur farms.
  • Fur farming has been banned in 21 European countries – the 15 Member States of Austria, Belgium, Croatia, Czech Republic, Estonia, France, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Slovakia, Slovenia plus Bosnia and Herzegovina, Guernsey, Norway, United Kingdom, North Macedonia and Serbia. In addition, two countries (Switzerland and Germany) have implemented strict regulations which have effectively brought fur farming to an end and three countries (Denmark, Sweden, Hungary) have imposed measures that have ended the farming of certain species.  Mink farming has also been banned in the Canadian province of British Colombia. Political discussion of a ban is underway in Bulgaria, Romania and Sweden.
  • Israel became the first country to ban fur sales, in 2021. In the United States, fur sales are banned in the state of California as well as ins 16 towns or cities. Political discussion on a fur import ban is underway in Switzerland
  • Mink on almost 488 fur farms across 13 countries in Europe and North America have been found to be infected with COVID-19. Millions of farmed mink, in countries such as Denmark and the Netherlands, were ordered to be killed on public health grounds. Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza A(H5N1) has been found on 72 fur farms (one in Spain, 71 in Finland) to date. Around 500,000 animals, including mink, arctic fox, red fox, raccoon dogs and sable, have been ordered to be killed on public health grounds.

Download visuals of the Max Mara hot-air balloon stunt. 

Media contact: Yavor Gechev, EU communications director: ygechev@hsi.org

 

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